Scoring machine



y 1965 H. M. QUAKENBUSH 3,182,535

SCORING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March '7, 1962 INVENTOR. flow/ma M. Ova/aways l for/29y May 11, 1965 Filed March 7, 1962 M. QUAKENBUSH SCORING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Haw/m0 M @zmmwaw BY 5%. am afford? United States Patent 3,182,535 SQORING MACHENE Howard Menlo Quakenbush, Evansville, Ind, assignor to National Furniture Manufacturing (10., Inc Evansville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Mar. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 178,184 2 (Ilaims. (Cl. 83-8) The present invention relates to a scoring machine, and more particularly to new and improved apparatus for uniformly slitting a material to any desired pro-selected depth.

As is known, it is becoming increasingly popular to upholster furniture with a sculptured or patterned effect insofar as, for example, the backs and arms are concerned. Typically, such furniture is manufactured through the use of pro-assembled upholstered portions defined by a scrim to which a layer of foam, such as polyurethane, is secured, where such foam has the desired final upholstery pattern outlined thereon in the form of slits. The aforesaid slits extend to any pre-selected depth into the foam and, in final pre-assembly, are adapted to receive hems of the upholstery fabric. Restated otherwise, portions of the cover fabric for the upholstered unit are tucked into the slits into the foam, and, subsequently, smoothed so as to provide a pro-assembly which affords a pleasing outward appearance.

In any event, difficulty has been encountered heretofore in defining, the aforesaid slits in the foam, particularly as the desired patterns are oftentimes complex in configuration, i.e. involve various circular and angular movements on the part of the operator, and, additionally, oftentimes lacked the desired uniform depth which provides for the best'outward appearance upon complete assembly of the unit.

By virtue of the instant invention, the applicant herein has provided a new and novel scoring machine, i.e. a machine for defining slits in a given material, where such scoring machine is highly, flexible in usage, providing versatility for the operator in that patterns can now be attained which formerly could not be realized through prior techniques. Additionally, andimportantly, the scoring machine automatically provides a uniform depth to the desired slits, therefore affording a decided advantage, for example, in the assembly of upholstered furniture.

Broadly, the applicants new and novel scoring machine is defined by a work-receiving area having framework disposed thereover onto which the operating head of the apparatus is movably mounted. In this latter regard, the movement of the operating head can be termed universal, i.e. it is capable of moving in all directions, while another feature of the apparatus is its ready usage upon limited movement of the operators hand.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel scoring machine having particular application in the upholstery industry.

Another object of thepresent invention is to provide a new and novel scoring machine which, because of its universal type mounting arrangement, is highly versatile in use. I

'Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel scoring machine which slits the material being processed to a uniform pre-selected depth.

A still further and more general object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel scoring machine which combines simplicity and effectiveness in use, with relative ease of manufacturing the apparatus.

3,l82,535 Patented May 11, 1965 Ice Other objects and a better understanding of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation, partly fragmentary, showing a scoring machine made in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the scoring machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing certain structural details of the applicants invention; and,

FIG. 4 is a View in vertical section, partly fragmentary, taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing still further structural details of the instant invention.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the applicants new and novel scoring machine It) is defined by a work-receiving surface 11 disposed on a framework 12 typically having supporting legs 12a at the respective corners thereof. A downwardly and inwardly tapered shroud 14 having a rim 14a is positioned by the framework 12 beneath the workreceiving surface 11, where vacuum means (not shown for reasons of drawing simplicity), in the form of a pump, draws air through a pattern of apertures 11a in the workreceiving surface 11 (see FIG. 3) and through the aforesaid shroud 14, the particular application of the vacuum means to be more fully described herebelow.

Extending rearwardly and upwardly from the sides of the support framework 12 are support members 16 and 18 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), where forwardly extending upper portions 16a and 18a thereof mount end members 21 and 22 of an oblong bracket assembly which also includes front and rear members 19 and 20 respectively extending between the aforesaid end members 21 and 22, Where the latter are secured to the aforesaid upper portions 16a and 18a of the support members 16 and .18 by means of bolts 24. The end members 21 and 22 support parallel rods 26 and 28 which slidably receive mounting structure for the cutting apparatus, to be discussed herebelow.

In a typical embodiment of the invention, the aforesaid mounting structure, identified by the reference numeral 39, comprises sleeves 30a and 36b, into which the parallel rods 26 and 28 are respectivelyreceived; a vertically extending member 30d which serves as a bearing for rotating the structure defining the cutting apparatus; and,

reinforcing webs 30c.

A brake, in the form of a disc 32, movable with the cutting appanatus, is positioned, above the mounting structure 3G. Braking action is controlled by a pneumath cally operated piston 34 which is disposed on a portion of the mounting structure 34), so that a head 34a, forming part thereof, selectively engages the undersurface of the disc 32, and, thereby, prevents rotatable movement of the cutting apparatus.

Other brakes, in the form of shoes 33a which are pneumatically controlled by pistons 33, selectively lock the 3 mounting structure 39 against sliding movement along the parallel rods 26 and 28 (see FIG. 3). FIG. 2 illustrates the control 45 for the pneumatic system for controlling the operation of the brakes 32 and 33a, as well as the cutting blade motor, the latter to be discussed herebelow.

A support member 36, rotatable within the aforesaid vertically extending member 36d positions a hood-like retaining structure 38 having reinforcement webs 38a and depending end flanges 38b, where the latter position other parallel rods 40 and 42 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). The aforesaid parallel rods 40 and 42 slidably mount the upper portion of the cutting structure (see FIG. 4) defined, in part, by sleeve members 45, where such parallel rods extend through the latter. As should be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4, a screw controlled braking system, identified by the reference numeral 50, is provided so that the sleeve members 45 and, hence, the cutting structure, may be selectively locked in any position along the length of the parallel rods 40 and 42. It should be understood that actual braking action is achieved by the engagement of braking elements a with the parallel rods 40 and 42.

In any event, extending downwardly from a plate extending between the sleeve members 45 is a hollow rod 51 having a spring 52 disposed therewithin. A collar 54 having a flanged portion 54a encircles the hollow rod 51, where reinforcing members 56 angle upwardly therefrom to the plate extending between the sleeve members 45. Another hollow rod 58 is received within the hollow rod 51, where the former is maintained at a fixed position therein by reason of a set screw 57 which extends through the collar 54, a portion of the hollow rod 51, and into the hollow rod 58.

The aforesaid spring 52 has one end 52a thereof fixedly secured to a member 60 which caps the upper end of the hollow rod 51, where the other end 52b thereof is secured to a plate 62 having a rod 64 extending therefrom. As should be apparent from FIG. 4, the plate 62 is dimensioned so that the hollow rod 58 serves as a stop, insofar as downward movement of the plate 62 is concerned.

The aforesaid rod 64 is disposed within the hollow rod 58, where still another hollow rod 66 encircles the hollow rod 58. The hollow rod 66 has a control member 67 fixedly secured therewithin as, for example, by welding or the use of pins (neither shown). The aforesaid rod 64 has a threaded end 64a which is received in the control member 67, where a set screw 69 extends through a portion of the hollow rod 66 and into the control member 67 for selective contact with the aforesaid threaded end 64a of the rod 64.

The assembly is completed by a pneumatically driven cutting mechanism 75, having a cutting blade 751;, secured to the bottom of the hollow rod 66. A button 75b is typically provided for operating the cutting blade 75a, where another hollow sleeve-like rod 72 has a portion which is normally disposed on such button (not shown for reasons of clarity). The hollow sleeve-like rod 72 controls the operation of the cutting blade 75a when urged downwardly beyond its normal position on the button 75b.

A framework 80, typically defined by generally horizontal members 80a, 80b and 800, and end members 80d and 80a, is mounted on the cutting blade structure, at hollow rod 58, for ease in following a pattern on the material under process. In other words, the framework 80 provides a type of sight on the work at hand. Moreover, the over-all scoring machine assembly is completed by the provision of reinforcement members 82 from one side to another.

It should be understood that the cutting blade 75a is normally in a raised position with respect to the Workreceiving surface 11 by reason of the spring 52. When the apparatus is put into use, the operator moves downwardly on the hollow sleeve-like rod 72, causing the cutting blade 75a to operate due to the further engagement with the button 75b, and, simultaneously, causing the entire assembly to move downwardly, so that the cutting blade 75a moves into contact with the material on the workreceiving surface 11. The limit of such downward movement of the cutting blade assembly is, as discussed hereabove, controlled by the plate 62 coming into contact with one end of the hollow rod 58 (as shown in FIG. 4).

As noted hereabove, an important advantage of the instant machine is the ability thereof to achieve a preselected slitted depth in a material, and one which is uniform throughout the pattern cut into such material. The aforesaid uniform cutting depth can be readily changed by releasing the rotation of the rod 64 through use of set screw 69 so that the control member 67 secured to hollow rod 66 can assume diiferent positions along the threaded portion of the rod 64. Thus, as the cutting mechanism 75 moves with the hollow rod 66, the depth of the cutting blade 75a in the material is effectively and positively controlled.

In use, and after the desired depth dimension has been selected, as discussed hereabove, the work having a pattern inscribed thereon is laid upon the work-receiving surface 11, and the pump means initiated so that the work will fixedly remain in position for scoring. The cutting blade 75a is caused to operate after the initiation of the pneumatic control 45 and through the downward movement of the sleeve-like rod 72, the latter as discussed above, with highly versatile results being available because of the movement provided along the parallel rods 26 and 28, the rotation of the support member 36 within the vertically extending member 30d, and the movement provided along the parallel rods 40 and 42. Moreover, and as also indicated hereabove, the movement of the cutting mechanism 75 may be limited, as desired, by use of the various braking mechanisms, viz the disc 32, the shoes 33a and the screw controlled system 50.

Thus, it should be evident from the above that the applicant herein has provided a new and novel scoring machine which represents an optimum of versatility in scoring any given pattern in a material, and which, as well, permits such scoring to any pre-selected uniform depth. As should be further evident, the aforesaid uniformity is simply and readily achieved through the use of a new and novel adjustment mechanism also forming part of the instant invention. The aforedescribed scoring machine is susceptible to various changes within the spirit of the invention, including, of course, those of dimensioning and mechanical equivalents/expedients. Accordingly, the preceding discussion should be considered illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for cutting a uniform depth in an upholstery material comprising a framework, a workreceiving surface, and a cutting mechanism disposed on said framework and movable in planes generally parallel with said work-receiving surface and in a direction to and from said work, said cutting mechanism comprising a first hollow support member, a second hollow support member secured to said first hollow support member, spring means disposed within said first hollow support member and having an end thereof secured to a movable ment of said adjustment member in the direction of said work-receiving surface. 230,158 18,117 References Cited by the Examiner 503 743 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 509:241

1,660,710 2/28 Jacobson 143--46 2,364,879 12/44 Talboys 143-46 2,785,747 3/57 Legate 83-451 FOREIGN PATENTS LEON PEAR, Primary Examiner. EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR CUTTING A UNIFORM DEPTH IN AN UPHOLSTERY MATERIAL COMPRISING A FRAMEWORK, A WORKRECEIVING SURFACE, AND A CUTTING MECHANISM DISPOSED ON SAID FRAMEWORK AND MOVABLE IN PLANES GENERALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID WORK-RECEIVING SURFACE AND IN A DIRECTION TO AND FROM SAID WORK, SAID CUTTING MECHANISM COMPRISING A FIRST HOLLOW SUPPORT MEMBER, A SECOND HOLLOW SUPPORT MEMBER SECURED TO SAID FIRST HOLLOW SUPPORT MEMBER, SPRING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID FIRST HOLLOW SUPPORT MEMBER AND HAVING AN END THEREOF SECURED TO A MOVABLE ADJUSTMENT MEMBER, WHERE SAID MOVABLE ADJUSTMENT MEMBER EXTENDS THROUGH SAID SECOND HOLLOW SUPPORT MEMBER AND ADJUSTABLY ENGAGES A PORTION OF A THIRD HOLLOW SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID THIRD HOLLOW SUPPORT MEMBER BEING DISPOSED IN SLEEVE-LIKE FASHION WITH RESPECT TO SAID SECOND HOLLOW SUPPORT MEMBER, AND A CUTTING HEAD DISPOSED ON SAID THIRD HOLLOW SUPPORT MEMBER, WHERE SAID SPRING MEANS CONTINUALLY URGED SAID CUTTING HEAD IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID WORK-RECEIVING SURFACE. 